NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Episode Date: August 20, 2025

North Carolina Governor declares state of emergency; Source: U.S. plans to deploy warships near Venezuela; Massive fiery explosion in Wilmington injures three firefighters; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, the state of emergency as hurricane errand storms towards the east coast, winds already topping 100 miles an hour, lightning flashing through the eye of the storm as the season's first major hurricane gets closer, rough waves slamming down with dangerous surf conditions threatening nearly the entire east coast up to New York City. Evacuations extended in the outer banks. Will homes like these survive? Plus, the White House preparing for a pop meeting between Putin and Zelensky, as President Trump declares he won't send American ground troops to Ukraine, the latest on the urgent push for peace, plus our exclusive interview with French President Macron and his warning about Putin. Debris shooting into the air after

a major explosion in North Carolina, multiple firefighters injured after authorities say a driver plowed into a gas line and sped away. New technology debuting today, helping flyers race through nearly every part of security at the airport. We'll show you how it works and the airport's rolling it out. Wild moments caught on camera, a car crashing into a restaurant sending two food bloggers flying. The new COVID vaccine guidance for toddlers from the nation's leading pediatricians at odds with the health secretary. And when a car factory worker lost his wallet in an SUV, he helped build a decade ago, he never thought it would come back to him when 151,000 miles later. Nightly News starts right now.

This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. And good evening. Hurricane Aaron is churning over the Atlantic, growing in size as it makes its way north. At this hour, the Category 2 storm is still hundreds of miles away, but its power is already being felt up and down the East Coast. Early storm surge, you see it here, causing coastal flooding in North Carolina as intense waves and life-threatening rip currents shut down beaches up and down the East Coast. The size of the storm is comparable to that of Hurricane Katrina, except Aaron, isn't expected to make landfall. It's the first hurricane of the year fueled by warming Atlantic waters. In a season, Noah predicting

will see abnormally high hurricane activity. We begin tonight with Aaron Gilchrest in North Carolina, where the governor there just declared a state of emergency. Tonight, all eyes on the Atlantic with Hurricane Aaron's supercharging waves along North Carolina's outer banks. In this satellite image, you can see lightning flash in the eye of the storm. Officials warning, conditions are expected to deteriorate over the next 24 hours. We're going to see significant flooding potential, and it's forecast to be two to four feet above dry ground with wave action on top. That could inundate part of our community. Coastal flooding already impacting some areas along the outer banks, both Hatteras and Okrakoak Island.

under mandatory evacuation orders with more than 2,100 people ferried off Ocracoke. Many beachside rental properties threatened by Hurricane Aaron, now empty. Alessandro Vani moved his family to safer ground after evacuating their rental home on Hatteras Island. We decided that maybe we could extend a trip if we came here since this wasn't an evacuation area. Despite the potential flooding and storm surge warnings, some locals plan to stay put. If it were anything like landfall or category three, landfall, we would be. out of here? If the roads are washed out, if they do get cut off, what do they need to be prepared for? They need to be prepared to take care of themselves for an extended period of

time. With the storm inching closer to the eastern seaboard, hurricane hunters using the opportunity to study how tropical systems form and intensify. Meanwhile, communities from Florida to New England bracing for dangerous rip currents. Friendly reminder, the water is closed today. The threat also shutting down beaches in New York and New Jersey with waves up to 13 feet This is no time to be complacent. Going in the ocean for the next number of days is something you've got to avoid. Back in North Carolina, double red flags warning beachgoers that even with the hurricane hundreds of miles away, it's just not safe to go into the water. And Aaron joins us now live tonight. Aaron, this is important. Even if your beach isn't closed, people up and down the East Coast have to be careful right now. You're absolutely right, Tom. You take a look at the waves here. They have been done.

getting more and more aggressive throughout the day here. We know that there's a storm surge, again, expected to reach maybe two to four feet as soon as this time tomorrow, and already the tropical storm watch that's been put in place has now been extended far up the Virginia coast. Tom? Aaron Gilchrist leading us off tonight. Aaron, thank you. Now to President Trump's push for peace in Ukraine, today ruling out sending American troops as a security guarantee.

While the White House says Vladimir Putin has agreed to a face-to-face meeting with Ukraine's President Zelensky. Here's Kelly O'Don. President Trump's grand efforts seeking peace from the Alaskan frontier to the pomp of White House diplomacy. Tonight, new clarity on a new limitation. The president saying no American ground troops to secure any truce in Ukraine. Well, you have my assurance. You're not president. A firmer stand than his response Monday when asked to rule out American forces. We'll let you know that. However, the president did promise U.S. participation to provide Ukraine with security guarantees they demand as part of a potential peace deal.

The president has definitively stated U.S. boots will not be on the ground in Ukraine, but we can certainly help in the coordination and perhaps provide other means of security guarantees to our European allies. Tonight, the White House says Vladimir Putin has agreed to what would be a major development in the president's push for peace, a Putin Zelenskyy, face-de-fate. meeting, with President Trump prepared to join them for a separate follow-up meeting. He says he laid it out to Putin by phone. And I told him that we're going to set up a meeting with President Zelensky and you and he

will meet. And then after that meeting, if everything works out, okay, I'll meet and we'll wrap it up. While there has been praise from visiting European leaders for President Trump's attempts to end the Russian-led war. I really believe it was an important meeting at the White House. French President Emmanuel Macron tells meet the press moderator, Kristen Welker, he doubts Putin's intentions. I don't see President Putin really willing to get peace now.

But perhaps I'm too pessimistic. So I think it's very important to launch this process. Reflecting on the stanks for peace, President Trump suggested he has a goal beyond this life. If I can save 7,000 people a week from being killed, I think that's a pretty, I want to try and get to heaven if possible. If I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons. And Kelly, it's still early, but you have some new reporting about potential locations for a meeting between Putin and Zelensky? That's right, Tom. A senior administration official tells me that Budapest, Hungary, Hungary, and Geneva, Switzerland are

among the sites being discussed, and that other nations have offered to host all of it complicated by the threat of arrest that Putin faces in many countries that are party to the international criminal court where Putin faces war crimes charges. Tom? An important caveat there. All right, Kelly, we thank you. The Trump administration tonight cracking down on drug cartels poised to send U.S. Navy ships near the coast of Venezuela. Here's Gabe Gutierrez. Tonight, the Trump administration is cracking down on drug cartels at sea. A source briefed on the matter tells NBC News the U.S. is planning to deploy these three warships near Venezuela.

President Trump focusing on drugs coming to the coasts after reducing illegal border crossings to record lows. They continue to send drugs into our country. Venezuela, they've been very nasty. The Trump administration also recently doubling to $50 million its reward for the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, saying he violated U.S. drug laws. Meanwhile, in the fight against traffickers,

the Coast Guard says it intercepted more than $138 million worth of drugs in the Caribbean this summer. Earlier this year, the president designated several cartels, as well as the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren der Agua as foreign terrorist organizations. And despite pulling off a large-scale prisoner swap with Venezuela last month, President Trump has been increasingly at odds with Maduro. He's prepared to use every element of American. power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice. The Maduro regime is not the legitimate government of Venezuela. It is a narco-terror

cartel. Now the Venezuelan government has banned drone flights throughout the country amid what it considers a threat from the U.S. A U.S. official tells NBC news the warships will be used for intelligence gathering and surveillance in international waters. Still, Maduro just announced that he's mobilizing militia members across his country in response. Tom? Gabe, our thanks to you. We want to turn now to a fiery explosion in Wilmington, North Carolina, with black smoke and debris filling the sky. It all started after a driver struck a gas line. Three firefighters were injured. Here's Priscilla Thompson with the incredible video. This dramatic video shows the moment a gas line exploded along a busy Wilmington, North Carolina road today.

Police say firefighters seen here were responding to a gas leak at a veterinary hospital when this gas line blew up debris blasted hundreds of feet in the air along with a ball of flames and these massive plumes of black smoke. Ian Cross filmed this video. What did it feel like when that explosion went off? I mean, it takes your breath away. Everything starts to kind of be like slow motion almost. You look up and you're seeing just debris on fire, like coming down on you. No civilians were inside the hospital, which hadn't opened to the public yet. Three firefighters were injured, officials say, one with severe burns on his hands and arms.

A vehicle that went off the road behind us here and struck the gas lines feeding the building that ultimately exploded. When officers arrived, the vehicle was gone. That driver now charged with felony DWI and leaving the scene of a hit and run. There was evidence that would lead one to believe that the driver was impaired. The destruction seen here from above, as tonight officials say the scene is secure, breathing a sigh of relief after no lives were lost in this terrifying explosion. Priscilla Thompson, NBC News. Imagine skipping nearly every TSA step before you board your flight.

It's happening right now at one major airport with more on the way, and our Priya Shrether shows us how it works. Tonight, TSA and Clearer launching a new EGate program touted as a faster way to get through security at the world's busiest airport, Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson. We'll have full coverage of this across the 59 airports and nearly 160 different checkpoints that we operate in today. The rollout begins this month in Atlanta, Washington's Reagan National Airport, and says, Seattle, Tacoma International Airport. The lanes are open to Clear Plus members, which requires a sign-up process that involves one government-issued ID, a $209 per year membership charge, and then a scan of your face for your biometric data. Just like a regular Clear Lane, you have to get your boarding pass scan to get into the e-gate, but you get to bypass this step where you would normally get your

biometric data scanned at the kiosks. Then you walk up to the e-gate where a camera will scan your face, And after three seconds, you can walk right through without having to talk to anyone, and then you're off to the baggage screening area. Clear, launching the new gates ahead of what it predicts will be 20 million international visitors to American host cities for next year's World Cup. I remember coming here many times and waiting for hours through security. So absolutely. It's like a difference.

Clear says only TSA has control over security screening and passenger information. remains private. We never sell your personal biometric or sensitive private data. New technology, ClearSas, can be a game changer for airport travel. You're welcome. Priya Shrether, NBC News, Atlanta.

All right, we'll be right back with a close call you won't believe. They're sitting, eating sliders when a car comes smashing through the storefront. Incredibly, these two food bloggers survived, and you'll hear from them. Next. We're back now with a close call caught on

camera, two food bloggers were filming at a Houston restaurant when a car barreled into the building, sending them flying as glass rained down. George Solis spoke to the pair who said they are lucky to be alive. Cheers, my boy. Boom. These Houston food bloggers had just spitten into salmon sliders when all of a sudden, an SUV slammed into the restaurant where they were filming, sending them flying. The car just came out of nowhere. I mean, it was glass, metal, I thought we were going to die. I'm like, oh my God, this is it. This is our last moment.

The bloggers, known as Nina Unrated and Patrick Blackwood, capturing every jaw-dropping second inside Cuvay's culinary creations on Saturday from the near-Miss collision. What just happened? The paramedics arriving and their trip to the emergency room, amazingly, walking away with minor cuts and bruises. It's one of the wildest things that can actually really happen,

like one in a million. According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, The driver said she thought her SUV was in park. When she let her foot off the break, the car rolled into the restaurant. She has not been charged. Have you guys actually been able to watch the video through? Is it just replaying in your heads? Yeah, both.

I've watched it. I don't understand how we're not... I'm sorry, I'm not going to cry. I'm not going to cry. I don't understand how we're not dead. This thing happened for a reason, and I'm just glad to be a lot. After a close call, they won't soon forget.

George Solis, NBC News. And when we return, the massive ship explosion caught on camera in Baltimore near where the key bridge fell, what happened here? Next on Nightly News. Welcome back. The American Academy of Pediatrics is strongly recommending COVID-19 shots for kids that are between six months and two years old. It is the first time in decades that the country's leading pediatrician group has broken with government vaccine recommendations. H.S. Secretary and Vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. doesn't recommend the vaccine for healthy kids of any age.

Doctors say young kids are at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19. And a new warning from the FDA tonight, some frozen shrimp sold at Walmart may have been exposed to get this radioactive material. The FDA says the public should avoid eating certain bags of Walmart's great value brand frozen shrimp sold in these 13 states. Walmart has more information about the recall on its website. And take a look at this, a massive explosion caught on camera. It happened on a cargo ship carrying coal in Baltimore, right by where the key bridge is being rebuilt. Fire officials said no injuries were reported. The cause of this fire is now under investigation. And look at this. The lengths people went to to move a landmark

Swedish church three miles down the road. The world's largest iron ore mine is threatening to swallow the town. It was in. The solution, relocate the entire town. They even widened the road to move the 600-ton church that was built in 1912. Looking good. All right, when we come back, the wallet that somehow found its way back to its owner more than a decade later, the discovery that started under the hood and ended states away. That's next. Finally, there's good news tonight for a retired auto worker in Michigan, who was surprised when the wallet that he lost on the job was returned to. him a decade later. Boyd Hooper from our Minneapolis affiliate, Care 11, with this story.

As the owner of an auto repair shop, replacing an H-back motor. There can't be much Chad Volk hasn't seen. Two thousand fifteen, Ford Edge. Chad was replacing the cooling fan on this 11-year-old Ford and learned the Ford hit a secret. That's where the wallet was sitting on top that hole. A wallet that puzzled the veteran mechanic. I just said down. and go through this wallet. Who then pulled from inside the work ID of a Ford Motor Company employee. Chad went on Facebook. Is this your wallet?

First thing I said was, did you find it in a car? He's like, yes, I did. Richard Guildford built Ford's in Michigan. I never wore sweatpants to work, but I did that day. And I had my wallet in my shirt pocket. As he leaned over this car 11 years ago, the wallet popped out. I checked and I'm like, Smitty, I lost my wallet. so we all went out and tried to look, and we couldn't find it.

So the wallet traveled in the edge to a dealership in Arizona, then to Lake Crystal, Minnesota, and 150,000 miles later, to the repair shop of an honest mechanic. Whales raised. Who walked the wallet three doors down to the post office. There's nothing wrong with the money at all. Every dollar present. It's well-traveled currency. Lottery tickets, and the $250 in gift cards Richard had planned to use to buy Christmas.

for his kids. How's it going, Richard? How are you doing? Not to ban you? Chad and Richard talking face to face for the first time. I would have never figured in a million years that would still be there. I'm going to start digging two cars more often, I guess in the engine base, see if I can find some stuff. I really, really appreciate it. Boyd Hooper, NBC News. And a big thank you to Boyd for that dose of good news. That's nightly news for this Tuesday. I'm Tom Yamis. Thanks so much for watching. always, we're here for you. Good night.